I’ve seen so many roundups of “best things about the 2010s” and while I had a ton of incredible things happen in the past decade (everything about Mizzou; graduating HIGH SCHOOL because that actually happened this decade; learning to fly trapeze; my master’s thesis; meeting Chris at the Mizzou bookstore of all places; several Lollapaloozas; skydiving; moving to new cities; the rise of bralettes; Lizzo; etc.), I’ll spare you the laundry list.
For this newsletter, instead of looking back, I’m looking ahead. The only looking back I’ve been doing is listening to the Goodbye ‘10s playlist on Spotify. I forgot how much Jason Derulo there has been in my life, for better or worse. Not sure which.
I like to do fun New Year’s Resolutions, not sucky resolutions, because the whole point is to make your life better. Guilt-tripping yourself into eating fewer French fries is counterproductive (get yourself an air fryer instead). Below I’m sharing this year’s list:
Fun, Not Sucky New Year’s Resolutions: 20 things to be stoked for in 2020
Go to More Concerts: One of my 2019 resolutions was to go to more concerts, and while I did go to more concerts, it’s never enough. On the 2020 schedule so far: Lots and lots of Red Rocks shows.
Convince People to Take Dance Class With Me: I’ve been taking dance classes again at the adult dance studio by my apartment and it’s such a godsend to have that studio that I need to just get it together and buy a membership so I can start going more. Plus I hate the gym. Problem is, they keep canceling my class because I’m the only one who shows up, so apparently there must not be enough dancers in the area who want to keep dancing. Calling all Denver dancers: Someone come dance with me so my classes don’t get cancelled and I don’t have to go to a gym!
Volunteer Somewhere: The national volunteer rate has been declining, which is not ideal. But I’m part of the problem because I stopped volunteering since moving to Denver. Excited to get back into it this year and find a new place to contribute.
Get TSA Global Entry: Finally got that appointment made and it will be glorious.
Make other appointments: Every time I move, I do a terrible job of finding my local nail salon, go-to Thai takeout place, dermatologist, primary care doctor and dentist. Need to do that in 2020. In that order.
More breweries: Much like “More Concerts,” I always have More Breweries as a resolution. Because they never end!! Next on the list: New Belgium.
Fewer IPAs: Because they never seem to end either and I am over it. Let’s leave the bitter, hoppy, heavy beers in the 2010s. Chris got me a bar accessories set for the bar cart so I’ll probably start learning to make cocktails instead. Also, have you heard of PHYX? Shameless client plug.
Swap Coffee for Tea (Sometimes): Another beverage-related resolution. Boyfriend is on a tea kick and I’m going to jump on the wagon because we’re trying to drink less coffee. Not quitting coffee anytime soon because the thought of doing that makes me want to die, but I could use a little more tea and a little less caffeine. I also don’t drink enough water so this is the fun version of Drink More Water.
Climb a Fourteener: I moved to Colorado in the fall, and then it immediately went to winter mode in October, which means I haven’t been able to climb any mountains. Which is kind of the whole point of living here! Once the spring hits I’m doing the Six-Pack, climbing my first 14,000 feet and hopefully not getting altitude sickness.
Start Brunch Club: In other words, where have the $2 Bloody Mary bars been all my life? Apparently in Denver, that’s where.
Celebrate Work Wins: I am really good at what I do and really bad at acknowledging myself for it. It was hard to even write “I am really good at what I do” just now because I don’t say it and it feels like bragging. But sometimes you need to just sit for a second and let yourself be happy about something cool you did at work. If anyone ever needs to share a work-related accomplishment and be like “Hey, I did that,” call me anytime and I’m all ears.
Be Publicly Bad at Something: I’m also really bad at…being bad at stuff in public. This keeps me from trying new things sometimes because I get self-conscious and I don’t want to be the lame person at the rock climbing gym struggling to make it up the wall in front of everyone watching. For some reason this didn’t stop me from trying trapeze, but I think it’s because NO ONE has trapeze experience and therefore I didn’t look lame for falling into the net my first time. Anyways, this stops in 2020: Time to be bad at something in public and try (and fail) more new things!
Create a Budget: Hah! Just kidding. Spend Money on Fun Stuff: In San Francisco I worried too much about spending money on fun things. Now my motto is, Just Buy The Nice Ski Boots.
Use The Air Fryer: Like I said, no need to ditch the fries. I got this for the Boyfriend for Christmas and we’ve already used it to make sweet potato fries and shrimp, without frying anything in fat or oil. Basically a healthier way to eat fries and chicken wings. 10/10 recommend.
Also Use the Apartment Gym: Okay, fine, one resolution that is non-fun. But only because I literally live above a gym and still don’t use it and it’s something I pay for, and also it’s cold out so I don’t want to run outside. Can gyms be fun? I can make it fun, right? Ugh.
Subscribe to Snail Mail: I have a Vogue subscription and it makes me so happy to see that magazine hit my mailbox every month that I want more. Support print journalism!
Discover New Music: Stuck in a rut. Who wants to help me out? I like everything.
Visit Museums: I work across the street from the Denver Art Museum and I still haven’t seen the Monet exhibit, which is absurd because that same Monet exhibit was in San Francisco while I was in San Francisco and I STILL didn’t get around to seeing it. Museums, movies and plays are the best way to get out of your routine and clear the cobwebs, as Don Draper would say. Museums also have bars.
Re-watch Mad Men: Speaking of Don Draper, that reminded me to do my annual re-run of Mad Men all the way through. I think I’ve done it five times already.
Seriously Just Relax Already: Like, for real, I need to just chill out more. If you catch me being a stressball about anything, remind me to Seriously Just Relax Already.
If you’re doing the New Year’s resolution thing this year, try to do resolutions that will actually make you happier instead of resolutions that you’ll instantly abandon and feel guilty about for the rest of the year. More fun. Less stress. Stoked on 2020!
Cheers,
A